Вход

вход по аккаунту

Патент USA US3059121

код для вставки на сайт или в блог

Ширина: (aвто)

Высота:

ссылки на документ

адрес страницы документа

адрес полноэкранного варианта

короткий адрес

Oct- 16, 1962
R. o. SILBERBACH
3,059,109
VEHICLE RADIO USING ZENER DIODES TO BOTH REGULATE
AND FILTER THE BIAS VOLTAGE SUPPLY
Filed Sept. 11, 1959
m?
.miI66QFRMQ
E SR
F
. E
QE SQ
3%
F
»—1
)
llAl Alll
N“QM
||
miétsu
o}
:J
E “3
llAlll
vvvvvv
INVENTUR
Ric/lard 0 Si/berbacb
rates atent ()?fice
1
3,59,169
Patented Oct. 16, 1962
2
to provide an improved electrical circut for regulating
3,059,199
as well as ?ltering direct current voltages.
VEl-HSLE BABE) USING
DIGDES T6 BQTH
REGULATE AND FELTER TEE BTAS VQLTAGE
SUPPLY
It is another object to provide an improved power
supply ?lter circuit for radio receivers for suppressing
undesirable electrical interference ranging in frequency
Richard 0. Silherbach, Chicago, Ill, assign'or to Motorola,
from about 30 cycles per second and above while also
Inc, (Ihicago, ill” a corporation of lllinois
providing a regulated direct current output.
Filed Sept. 11, 195?, Ser. No. 839,599
A further object is to provide an improved voltage
2 Claims. (Cl. 325—318)
regulator which is suitable for incorporation into the
This invention relates to electric circuits of the type 10 power supply of vehicle radio receivers of the type de
signed to operate directly without step-up converters on
employed in radio receiving systems for suppressing in
low direct current voltages supplied by the vehicle elec
terference and stabilizing voltages, and is more particu
trical system, said regulator thereby providing voltage
larly directed to a noise ?lter and voltage regulator cir
regulation for the entire receiver and thus insuring a high
cuit for use in vehicle radio receivers designed to operate
directly on the low voltages supplied by the direct cur 15 degree of voltage stability for the receiver oscillator in
spite of variations in the vehicle generator output and in
rent vehicle electrical system.
the load of the electrical system.
Problems have been encountered in adapting radio re
A still further object is to provide a noise ?lter for
ceivers for operation in automobiles or the like since
vehicle radio receivers which utilizes the Zener effect of
it is preferred to energize such radio receivers from the
low voltage direct current electrical system of the auto 20 semiconductor devices to provide improved alternating
current attenuation over a wide range of frequencies,
mobile and receivers have normally required high volt
yet which is more compact, more reliable and which
age for proper operation. Although the auto industry in
utilizes fewer components than prior art ?lters.
recent years has standardized on 12 volt (nominal) sys
A feature of the present invention is the provision of
tems in place of 6 volt systems, these higher voltage
systems still represent a relatively low voltage environ 25 an improved electrical circuit which includes a Zener ef
ment for radio receivers.
Receivers have recently been
designed, however, which do operate successfully on low
voltage and these are all transistor receivers or a receiver
fect device, such as a semiconductor junction diode, con
nected in series with an impedance element which will
conduct direct current, the diode and impedance element
being connected across a source of direct current power
known as a “hybrid” and including both tubes and tran
sistors as described and claimed in Race Patent No. 30 with the diode poled in an ordinarily nonconductive man
ner with respect to direct current. A diode is used hav
2,810,071.
Other problems still remain, however, in further im
proving a radio receiver for operation directly from vehi
cle electrical systems. The direct current output voltage
ing a predetermined inverse breakdown voltage lower
than the potential at the point where these series ele
ments are connected across the power source so that
output varying with changes in engine speed, load changes
the diode conducts continuously in the reverse direction
with a Zener breakdown impedance.
in the system, and changes in the condition of the auto
mobile storage battery with temperature and age. These
tages of the invention will be apparent from a study
in?uences may cause the voltage to range anywhere from
12 to 15 volts, this variation being in the nature of a
of the following description thereof taken in connection
with the accompanying drawing, wherein:
of such systems commonly varies as a result of generator
gradual or steady state condition and occurring despite
the presence of an automobile voltage regulator. Up to
now it has not been practical to provide means for com—
The foregoing ‘and other objects, features, and advan
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an automobile radio re
ceiver of the hybrid type including a ?lter and regulator
circuit in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a conventional prior art
pletely isolating the receiver from the effects of this
voltage variation and consequently present auto radio re
ceivers are subject to being detuned when the voltage
?lter network commonly used for receivers of the type
possibility of blocking the ?rst receiver stage. To over
veloped primarily across the choke and resistor. Thus,
shown in FIG. 1.
The invention provides a combined ?lter and regulator
supplied to the local oscillator therein is allowed to vary.
network well suited for operation in a radio receiver ener
This condition becomes even more serious for completely
transistorized radio receivers due to the lower inherent 50 gized directly from a low voltage direct current power
source without voltage step-up. In a particular form the
stability of transistor oscillators compared to vacuum tube
system includes capacitor means, which may be shunt
oscillators.
connected across the power input lead and chassis ground,
Another problem encountered in providing radio re
for ?ltering high frequency components of electrical inter
ceiving installations in automobiles is the suppression of
ference. Series coupled with the power input lead are a
electrical interference existing in the automobile electri
?lter choke and a resistor which conduct receiver current
cal system. Such interference may cover a wide range
therethrough. Zener diodes are coupled from the respec
of frequencies from a few cycles per second on up to the
tive low potential sides of the choke and resistor to
megacycle range and commonly results from the opera
chassis ground and are reverse poled with respect to the
tion of the breaker points in the ignition system, from
switch and key clicks as well as from other periodical 60 potential thereacross. These diodes have predetermined
Zener breakdown voltage characteristics such that con
or stray electrical noises picked up and conducted by
tinuous reverse conduction occurs therethrough as the
the automobile electrical system. Interference in the
direct current potential applied across the series circuit
audio frequency range will, of course, be ampli?ed and
ranges between given minimum and maximum values.
reproduced by the radio receiver unless it is isolated
from the receiver stages. Interference above and below 65 Such gradual direct current voltage variations as well as
a broad range of interference frequency voltages are de
the audio range may be equally undesirable due to the
come ignition noise and the like it is common practice
to provide a power supply ?lter in the radio receiver
a voltage regulated as well as fully ?ltered direct current
output is provided from the power source by connecting
load conductors, such as the B+ and ground terminals
composed of several capacitor and inductor components
which necessarily contribute to the physical size, weight 70 of a radio receiver, across the diodes of the network.
and expense of the overall receiver.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention
Referring now to the drawing, the receiver of FIG. 1
includes an antenna 10 which supplies modulated radio
3,059,109
4
3
pli?er stage satisfactory operation results when 12 volts
frequency signals to a tuned circuit 11 gang-tuned with a
tuned circuit 112 and a local oscillator tuned circuit 13-.
and 13.9 volts (110%) respectively are applied between
The modulated radio frequency signal is applied from the
tuned circuit .11 through an antenna spark choke-capacitor
the emitters of transistors 39, 41 and 42 and chassis
ground by means of leads 45 and 46 respectively.
14 to the grid ‘16 of vacuum tube 17 in the radio fre
One feature which improves direct operation, without
voltage step-up, from the battery-generator electrical sys
quency ampli?er stage. The output of tube 17 is coupled
from plate 18 thereof through coupling capacitor 19: to
the tuned input circuit 12 and applied to the control grid
tem of an automobile is the manner of providing auto
matic gain control from the voltage divider network 36 to
the control grid 15 of vacuum tube 17. The negative
of mixer-oscillator vacuum tube 21 in the converter stage.
Local oscillations for the converter stage are controlled 10 voltage developed across resistors 47' and 48 and appear
ing on lead 38 is highere than desired for full gain op
by oscillator tuned circuit 13, and this stage converts the
eration of the radio frequency stage at low signal levels.
modulated radio frequency by heterodyne action to a
To counteract this, a large bleeder resistor 49 is con
modulated intermediate frequency of, for example, 262.5
nected between lead 38 and B+ lead 51 and this has a
kilocycles per second. This intermediate frequency sig
nal is selected by the tuned transformer coupling system 15 resistance sufficient to reduce the negative bias on grid 15
frequency ampli?er stage. The ampli?ed intermediate
of tube 17. This will allow the gain of the stage to be at
a maximum during reception of weak signals, while dur
frequency output of tube 23 is in turn transformer cou
ing reception of strong signals the AGC voltage developed
pled through tuned transformer circuit 24 to diode plate
across network 36 will ‘override the e?ect of the bleeder
resistor 49 to increase the negative bias and thereby re
duce the gain of thestage. A capacitor 52 and the re
22 and impressed on vacuum tube 23 in the intermediate
26 of vacuum tube 27 in the detector-automatic gain
control-audio frequency ampli?er stage. The detected
audio frequency signal is developed in network 28 and
across volume control potentiometer 29‘, the frequency
range of the developed audio signal being adjustable by
means of the tone control 31 associated with volume con
sistor 53 form a ?lter which removes radio and audio
frequency signals and provides the desired time constant
for the AGC circuits.
25
trol 29. The volume and tone controlled portion of the
,detectedraudio signalis then coupled through capacitor
32 to the control grid 33 and is ampli?ed by tube 27. ,
Automatic gain control for each of the preceding stages
is developed through a voltage divider network36 con
nected to plate 34 of tube 27, the desired AGC signal
voltage being applied through AGC leads 37 and 38 to
the respective input circuits (control grids) of the pre
ceding stages.
.
Before completing the description of the circuit of
FIG. 1, it is believed thata description of ‘a conventional
prior art ?lter circuit, as shown in FIG. 2, will provide
a better understanding of the invention. To energize the
receiver, terminal 61 is connected to the positive lead from
the electrical system of the automobile (not shown). This
system in present day automobiles may provide a direct
current voltage of about 14.4 volts (nominal). Although
this is a high enough potential to operate the above de
scribed radio receiver without voltage step-up, it is not
The output circuit of tube 27 is directly connected to 35 an ideal source of power for receiver operation due to
the base of driver stage transistor 39‘ so that the DC.
several factors previously mentioned.
potential at the base of transistor 39 serves as an operating
or exciting potential for the anode of tube 27. Changes
In order to suppress or ?lter the undesirable interfer
cues from the direct current voltage of the system, the
in the plate resistance corresponding to received signals
radio receiver is customarily provided with a ?lter net
alter the current through the base of transistor 39 to pro 40 work located intermediate input terminal 61 and the B+
vide an input signal for this transistor. _The ampli?ed
leads. A relatively large capacitor 62, commonly re
output current of transistor 39‘- is fed through the pri
ferred to as a “spark plate,” is connected between the
mary winding of current step-up coupling transformer 40.
power lead 63 and the chassis, the latter being established
The secondary windings of transformer 40 are respectively
at ground or reference potential, so that the high fre
‘connected across the base and emitter of transistors741
quency components of electrical interference which may
and 42 in the, push-pull audio frequency power ampli?er
exist at terminal 61 are effectively by-passed to the
stage.(operated Class B) so that an induced input signal
point of reference potential. The capacity of spark plate
current is supplied to each transistor with a phase differ
'62 must be as high as practicable, and it musthave a rela
ence of 180 degrees. These signal currents are ampli?ed
tively large mechanical construction in order to have a
‘by transistors 41 and 42 and the resulting output current 50 negligible inductive value to provide a low impedance
is fed through the voice coil of loudspeaker 43 to directly
path for high frequencies. Capacitor 64 is connected in
7 drive the loudspeaker.
shunt with spark plate 62 to increase the effective nonin
ductive capacitance of ‘the spark plate. To aid in ?ltering
The above-described radio receiver is of the type com
monly referred to_ as a “hybrid” receiver since it utilizes
a ?lter choke 66 is connected in series with lead 63 to pass
both vacuum tubes and transistors. Such a radio receiver
D.C. readily while presenting a large A.C. impedance
is particularly described in the aforementioned United
States patent issued to Richard T._Race, assignor _to the
to the high frequency components. 'If such provision
were not made for eliminating interference, those com
assignee hereof. Such hybrid radio receiversrhave ‘elimi
ponents having a frequency in the upper audio range
nated the need for the vibrators and step-up transformers
would be heard as static from the receiver loudspeaker.
previously used to generate .high voltages for energizing 60 Furthermore, in the radio receiver of FIG. 1 these com
power amplifying vacuum tubes. They operate directly
from the low voltage (e.g. 12 volt D.C. nominal) electri
cal systemrof present day automobiles by using vacuum
vtubes in the high frequency and voltage ampli?er stages
while using transistors in the driver and power ampli?er
stages. For example, in a commercial receiver employing
the above-described circuitry the radio frequency ampli?er
vacuum tube 17 operates on 7.8 volts (i10%) potential
‘difference between the plate 18 and chassis‘ground with
no signal input. 'Similarly,Vthe converter stage vacuum
tube 21 and intermediate frequency ampli?er vacuum tube
a 23 operate with plate voltages of 11.8 volts (i10% ), the
above voltages being applied through the common B+
lead 51 to the aforementioned tubes. In the transistor
ized‘driver and push-pull audio frequency‘ power am
ponents as well as those above the audible range could
reach tube 17 through the connection provided by re
sistor 49 between grid 15: and the line 51 and thereby
cause blocking of the radio frequency ampli?er stage.
65
When series switch 67 is closed the receiver will be
energized with direct current through lead 63, which at
this point may still contain undesirable low frequency
components of electrical interference. To eliminate these
low frequency components an electrolytic capacitor 68
is, connected between the junction ‘of lead 63 with lead 46
and chassis ground, Capacitor 68 has acapacitance on
the order of 100 microfarads so that su?icient attenuation
‘or ?ltering of the low frequency interference is provided
for the push-pull power ampli?er stage. The effects of
75 ‘interference are more critical for the preceding stages of
3,059,109
5
V
the receiver and therefore more low frequency ?ltering
is provided by an RC circuit consisting of resistor 69 hav
ing a resistance of 120 ohms and which is connected in
series with another electrolytic capacitor 71 connected in
turn to the reference point. Capacitor 71 may have a
capacitance on the order of 400 microfarads. Lead 51 is
connected to the junction of resistor 69 with capacitor
71 to supply the ?ltered direct current to tubes 17, 21 and
6
This period of conduction persists as long as reverse volt
ages are maintained of greater magnitude than the Zener
or inverse breakdown voltage characteristic for the partic
ular diode.
If a direct current conducting impedance element, such
as a resistor or inductor, is connected in series with a
Zener diode and su?icient direct current voltage is ap
plied across these series connected elements in a reverse
direction such that the voltage drop across the diode ex
23. Further ?ltering action for the transistorized audio
driver stage is provided by the RC decoupling network 10 ceeds the predetermined Zener breakdown voltage of the
diode, reverse conduction will take place during which
consisting of resistor 72 and capacitor 73, lead 45 being
any changes in the applied voltage will be developed
connected between the junction of resistor 72 with capaci
solely across the resistor. This is due to the Zener elfect
tor 73 and the emitter of transistor 39.
of the diode wherein the reverse e?ective resistance thereof
Although the prior art ?lters may provide acceptable
attenuation of electrical interference, they do not provide 15 varies inversely with the reverse conduction therethrough
a means of overcoming the voltage variation problems en
so that a constant voltage is always maintained across
countered when energizing receivers from vehicle elec
trical systems. ‘Ihe steady state or gradual voltage ?uctua
tions occur too slowly to be stabilized by the conventional
the diode, which voltage is substantially equal to the
predetermined Zener breakdown voltage of the diode.
It has been found that the alternating current imped
?ltering system. Consequently they are ordinarily per 20 ance characteristic of such diodes is also affected When
they are operated for reverse conduction. When so oper
mitted to pass unregulated through the prior art ?lter
systems such as that described in FIG. 2 Voltage varia
tions in lead 51 will be re?ected across the feedback wind
ing of oscillator 13 in the converter stage, where the
effect is to change the resonant frequency of the oscil 25
lator and thereby detune the receiver.
This detuning
effect becomes even more critical for all-transistor re
ated they have a low impedance to a wide range of alter
nating current frequencies. In a test set-up, diode 82
with an inverse breakdown voltage characteristic of 10
volts was connected in series with resistor 83 having a
resistance of 10 ohms, a direct current voltage of 10.2
volts was applied thereacross to cause 20 milliamperes
of direct current to pass through the diode in the reverse
ceivers since transistor oscillators are inherently less
direction; when an R.M.S. alternating current voltage of
stable than vacuum tube oscillators.
‘ Referring again to FIG. 1, there is shown a ?lter net 30 .168 volt was superimposed on the DC. voltage, the re
sultant voltage across a load in shunt with diode 82
work in accordance with the invention which provides
measured .0047 volt R.M.S. at a frequency of 30 cycles
improved ?ltering action over the prior art ?lter discussed
per second, giving an AC. attenuation ratio of approxi
above and which also overcomes the serious problem of
mately 36 to 1. In contrast, the prior art electrolytic
voltage instability. Where identical ?lter elements occur
in FIGS. 1 and 2, they are given the same numerals and 35 capacitor 71 would need a capacitance of approximately
their description not repeated. As shown in FIG. 1,
15,000 microfarads to provide such an attenuation ratio
it is possible to eliminate the spark plate 62. Another
for a frequency of 30 cycles per second. It is also to
be noted that the Zener impedance remains fairly con
difference between the disclosed embodiment and the
stant for frequencies on the order of 30 cycles per second
prior art resides in the portion of the ?lter network corre
sponding to that portion of the prior art ?lter provided to 40 frequency up to about a thousand kilocycles per second,
perform the ?ltering of the lower frequency components
and beyond this range the increased shunt capacity re
sults in an even greater attenuation effect.
of electrical interference. A Zener e?ect device, such
In operation of the disclosed embodiment of the inven
as a Zener diode 81, is reverse poled in a normally non
tion ‘a DC. voltage which may gradually vary is applied
conductive manner for direct current and connected be
tween the junction of power lead 63 with lead 46 and 45 across the circuit branch consisting of choke 66 and re
verse poled diode 81. For a nominal 14.4 Volt DC. ve
the reference point. In addition, ‘another Zener effect
hicle system voltage which is subject to dropping to a
device, such as a Zener diode 82, is connected in series
with a direct current conducting impedance means ‘or re
minimum of about 12 volts DC, a Zener diode 81 is
selected having a Zener breakdown voltage characteristic
sistor 83, this series circuit being connected across the
junction of lead 63 with diode 81 ‘and the reference point. 50 so as to be operated continuously with reverse conducé
tion therethrough. The chroke 66 has a given D.C.
Diode 82, like diode 81, is poled for reverse conduction
resistance and therefore DC. voltage variations are de
of direct current ?owing in line 63. B+ leads 45 and
veloped thereacross since the DC. voltage drop across
51 are connected at the junction of resistor 83 and diode
Zener diode 81 remains essentially stable. Choke 66
82 to supply the B+ potential to all but the power am
pli?er stage of the receiver, and lead 46 connects this last 55 has an A.C. impedance value greater than the Zener im
pedance value of diode 81, even for low frequencies, and
stage to the junction of lead 63 and diode 81 to supply
therefore more of the low frequency interference will be
it with operating potential.
developed across choke 66 than will be developed across
The functioning of the ?lter network in accordance
diode 81. The partially ?ltered and stabilized D.C. volt
with the invention is dependent upon the phenomenon
called the Zener effect, a well known property of, for in 60 age appearing at the junction of choke 66 and diode 81 is
sufficiently modi?ed to be usable in the power ampli?er
stance, semiconductor devices having two contiguous
stage and therefore lead 46 is connected at this point to
zones of semiconductor materials of opposite conduc
tivity type, commonly known as P-N junctions. Up to a
supply power to this stage. It is to be noted that a push
pull type ampli?er and a directly coupled loudspeaker
predetermined maximum voltage these devices will per
mit substantial conduction through the junction in one 65 are well suited for use with diode 81 since less current
is required, resulting in a lower power dissipation ratio
direction ‘only, commonly termed the forward direction,
for the overall ?lter circuit.
with negligible conduction permitted in the opposite or
For the preceding stages of the receiver further ?lter
reverse direction. Due to this property of recti?cation
ing and stabilization action is obtained by means of
these semiconductor devices are ordinarily called semi
conductor junction diodes.
70 Zener diode 82 and resistor 83. Resistor 83 o?ers a con
stant and proportionately high D.C. resistance and AC.
When a certain critical voltage or Zener voltage is im
impedance to low frequency interference in compari
pressed across the junction in the direction of reverse
son to the Zener impedance of diode 82, and thus together
conduction, a known phenomena called the Zener elfect
occurs which causes the semiconductor to “break down”
they form another voltage divider and regulator network
and conduct in the reverse direction through the junction. 75 for ?ltering and stabilizing the direct current. Like the
3,059,109
7
8
preceding diode 81, the inverse breakdown voltage char
electrical system,’ direct current conducting impedance
acteristic of diode 82 is selected to be slightly lower than
the. normal minimum D.C. potential expected across the
means connected in series with said semiconductor means,
means for conducting direct current of at least the given
minimum potential from the electrical system across said
diode‘ to insure continuous reverse conduction there
through. Leads 45 and 51 conduct the fully stabilized and
?ltered direct current to their respective stages.
In a constructed embodiment of the receiver of FIG. 1,
semiconductor means and said impedance means, such
last named minimum potential including said potential
variations and electrical interference voltages, said semi
conductor means being poled so that the direct current
voltage of the system is applied in a reverse direction to
the following circuit constants were used, and these are
listed herein merely by way of example and are not in
tended to limit the invention.
10 said semiconductor means to cause continuous inverse
breakdown conduction thereof and a Zener impedance
Normal direct current voltage
thereacross so that gradual potential variations in the
of the vehicle electrical sys
system and also electrical interference voltages are pri
tem ___________________ ..
13.2 volts D.C.
Normal gradual variation in sys-
'
tem voltage _____________ .. +l2-l5 volts D.C.
Capacitor 64 ______________ _._ .S microfarad.
marily developed across said impedance means, and means
15 for connecting said conductor means of said receiver
across said semiconductor means, said semiconductor
means and said impedance means serving a primary regu
lation and ?lter function without ?lter capacitors so that
Filter choke 66__________ __'_.. 20 millihenries.
Zener diode 81 ____________ __ 50 watt, 11.8 volt.
, Resistor 83 ____________ __'___
150 ohms.
Zener diode 82 ____________ __ 750 milliwatt, 10.5 volt.
.
Transistor
41 _____________ __
2N176.
Transistor 42 _____________ __
2Nl76.
Tube
17 _________________ __
12EG6.
Tube
21 _________________ __
12AD6.
Tube
23 _________________ __
27 _________________ __
12AE6A.
Tube
12BL6.
regulated and ?ltered direct current is supplied from said
20 circuit to said oscillator and amplifying means.
2. In radio apparatus adapted to be energized directly
from a low voltage direct current vehicular electrical sys
tem providing a source of power which may gradually
vary in potential between given, minimum ‘and maximum
25 values and which may contain electrical interference cov
ering a wide range of frequencies, which apparatus in
cludes conductor means for supplying direct current
thereto for powering the same; a regulator and ?lter net
The above-described ?lter and regulator circuit pro
work for such apparatus including in combination, semi
nate the low frequency components of interference While 30 conductor means having a predetermined Zener break
down voltage characteristic lower than said given mini
at the same time providing a stabilized direct current
vides a very elfective low pass ?ltering system to elimi
mum value of direct current voltage of the electrical sys
tern, current limiting resistance means connected in series
with said semiconductor means, means for applying di
eliminated. High frequency interference ?ltering action 35 rect current from the electrical system across said semi
conductor means and current limiting resistance means
is enhanced over the prior art ?lters so that direct connec
so that said resistance means is at. a higher potential
tion may be made to the B+ line from the low voltage
than asid semiconductor means, said semiconductor means
tubes without danger of tube blockage. In addition,
being poled so that direct current voltage is applied in a
Zener eifect devices, such as semiconductor junction
voltage to drive the various stages of the receiver. Con
sequently, audible rumble and static as well as oscillator
deviation problems due to B+ voltage variation are
diodes, are utilized in place of bulky electrolytic capac
40 reverse direction to said semiconductor means to cause
itors to eifect a'reduction in size and weight of the re
continuous inverse breakdown conduction thereof and
thereby provide a Zener impedance characteristic across
said semiconductor means so that gradual variations in
ceiver while achieving an improved ?lter output.~ Due
to the inherent characteristics of Zener effect devices, a
the system voltage and also electrical interference volt
?lter and regulator B+ output may be obtained which
is only slightly lower than the input D.C. voltage, an 4:5 ages areiprimarily developed across said resistance means,
said regulator and ?lter network including no high ca
operating factor which is very important when it is ‘de
pacity ?lter so that both voltage regulator and ?lter ac
sired to energize a radio receiver directly from a low
tion are providedfor low and high frequency variation
voltage source without voltage step-up.
‘
primarily by said semiconductor means and resistor means
I claim:
’
.
1. In a vehicle radio receiver adapted to be energized 50 without ?lter capacitors, and means for connecting the
conductor means of the apparatus across said semicon
directly from the low voltage direct current electrical sys
tem of a vehicle providing a nominal potential of the
order of 13 volts, which system includes generator means
providing ,electromotive force therefor and which genera
tor means may cause gradual. variations in the system 55
ductor means so that regulated and ?ltered direct current
is supplied from said network to the radio apparatus.
References Cited in the ?le of this patent
potential between given minimum and maximum values,
the system also including an ignition circuit which may
introduce electrical interference voltages covering a wide
range of frequencies, said receiver including in combina
tion, oscillator and amplifying means and also conductor
means for supplying low voltage direct current to said
oscillator and amplifying means, a regulator and ?lter cir
cuit including semiconductor means having a predeter
mined Zener breakdown voltage characteristic lower than
UNITED STATES PATENTS
1,829,254
Asch ________________ __ Oct. 27, 1931
2,714,702
2,810,071
Shockley ____________ __ Aug. 2, 1955
Racer ________________ __ Oct. 15, 1957
2,812,393
2,861,237
Patrick ______________ __ Nov. 5, 1957
Zelina ______________ __ Nov. 18, 1958
2,875,382
2,876,642
Sandin et a1 ___________ __ Feb. 24, 1959
Scorgie ______________ __ Mar. 10, 1959
Zelinka, ______________ __ July 21, 1959
2,896,151
the given minimum value of direct current potential‘of the 65